Simple Chicken & Vegetable Bake with Suluguni Cheese

This dish is a delightful fusion of fresh vegetables, tender chicken, and creamy cheese—all layered and baked to golden perfection. Inspired by homestyle cooking and Eastern European flavors, the dish brings together roasted potatoes, zucchini, carrots, bell pepper, and tender chicken fillet, finished with melted suluguni cheese and a refreshing sour cream‑cucumber sauce. It’s a comforting yet vibrant all-in-one meal, perfect for family dinners, guests, or a hearty lunch. Every element—savory chicken, crisp veggies, buttery cheese, and cooling sauce—is balanced to delight your palate and crowd your plate with wholesome goodness.

Full Recipe

Ingredients

  • 300 g potatoes, peeled and sliced

  • Salt, to season potatoes and vegetables

  • 1 zucchini, sliced

  • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 bunch parsley, chopped

  • 3 eggs, beaten

  • 3 Tbsp flour

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 300 g chicken fillet, diced

  • 1 tomato, sliced or chopped

  • 150 g suluguni cheese, grated or sliced

  • Olive oil, for sautéing and drizzling

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Red and black pepper, for seasoning

For the sauce:

  • 1 cucumber, grated or finely chopped

  • 100 g sour cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 180 °C (356 °F). Grease a large baking dish with olive oil.

  2. Lightly season potato slices with salt and layer them in the dish. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes until tender.

  3. Meanwhile, season zucchini slices, carrot, and bell pepper with salt. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté onion until translucent, about 3–4 minutes.

  4. Add diced chicken to the pan, season with salt, red and black pepper, and cook until no longer pink—about 6–7 minutes.

  5. Stir in sliced zucchini, carrot, and red bell pepper; cook another 5 minutes.

  6. In a bowl, whisk together beaten eggs and flour. Stir in chopped parsley, salt, and pepper.

  7. Once potatoes are pre-baked, layer the cooked chicken‑vegetable mixture evenly over potatoes.

  8. Pour the egg‑flour mixture over everything, tilting the dish to distribute evenly.

  9. Arrange tomato slices on top and scatter or layer suluguni cheese across the surface.

  10. Reduce oven to 160 °C (320 °F) and bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the egg layer is set and cheese is melted and lightly golden.

  11. While baking, mix grated cucumber and sour cream in a bowl with a pinch of salt and chopped parsley to make the refreshing sauce.

  12. Remove bake from oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve warm, drizzled with the cucumber‑sour cream sauce.

Nutrition & Preparation Time

  • Preparation Time: ~20 minutes (chopping, layering)

  • Bake Time: 20 min at 180 °C + 20 min at 160 °C = 40 minutes total

  • Total Time: ~1 hour

  • Servings: 4 generous portions

  • Estimated per serving: Calories ~450–500 kcal; Protein 30–35 g; Fat 20–25 g; Carbohydrates 45–50 g; Fiber 4–6 g

About This Recipe

This colorful bake layers starchy potatoes with well-seasoned chicken and sautéed vegetables, bound together with a fluffy egg-flour mixture, and topped with creamy suluguni cheese that goes slightly stretchy and savory in the oven. The cooling cucumber-sour cream sauce adds brightness and texture contrast, making the dish feel balanced and satisfying. It’s an inclusive meal—protein, veggies, dairy, and starch all in one dish—easy to make yet rich in flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love this chicken‑vegetable bake because it’s practical, nourishing, and impressive with minimal effort. It’s a complete meal in a single dish, eliminating the need for extra sides. The combination of textures—tender potatoes, moist chicken, crisp veggies, and creamy cheese—makes every bite interesting. The cucumber-sour cream sauce adds a fresh element that keeps the dish light and approachable. It’s also great for leftovers and reheats well.

The Origins and Inspiration Behind the Dish

This bake draws inspiration from Eastern European and Caucasian cuisine, where layering potatoes, meat, and cheese is common in homestyle cooking. Suluguni cheese, a staple in Georgian cuisine, melts beautifully and contributes a salty, tangy bite. The use of eggs and flour to bind the bake echoes classic regional casseroles, while the cucumber‑cream sauce references refreshing yogurt-based sides common across Eastern Mediterranean and Slavic meals.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 180 °C (350 °F) oven for 10–12 minutes or microwave individual portions briefly. To maintain a slight crisp at the top, reheat uncovered so the cheese layer doesn’t soften too much. The cucumber sauce can be stored separately for up to 2 days—stir it before serving to refresh the flavor.

Common Variations to Try

  • Use ground chicken or turkey instead of diced fillet.

  • Add extra vegetables like zucchini rounds or spinach for more greens.

  • Swap suluguni for feta, halloumi, or mozzarella.

  • Stir some chopped olives or a pinch of chili flakes into the filling.

  • Make a gluten-free version by using chickpea flour in the egg binder.

  • For a vegetarian option, omit meat and add cooked lentils or beans for protein.

Pairing Recommendations

Serve with a simple mixed green salad or crisp tomato‑cucumber salad for extra freshness. A crusty baguette or garlic bread on the side works well for soaking up sauce and cheese. For drinks, try a light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a sparkling lemonade or mint-infused still water.


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Health Benefits

This meal provides a good balance of lean protein from chicken, fiber from vegetables and potatoes, calcium from suluguni cheese, and healthy fats from olive oil. Cucumber and parsley bring vitamins and antioxidants, while limiting processed ingredients ensures cleaner nutrition. By controlling salt and using moderate cheese, this dish can fit into balanced family meals without excess sodium.

Conclusion

This Simple Chicken & Vegetable Bake with Suluguni Cheese is a flavorful and satisfying all-in-one meal that brings comfort, nutrition, and appetite-pleasing variety together in every forkful. With humble ingredients transformed into something visually inviting and deeply tasty, it’s the kind of recipe that eases planning, satisfies nourishing hunger, and delights the whole family. From tender chicken and vegetables to melty cheese and cooling sauce, it delivers balance, warmth, and home-style appeal in one beautiful dish. I hope you give it a try—it’s destined to become a favorite in your cooking rotation.